SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

CAPTAIN D'ALBERTIS, OF THE ITALIAN NAVY.

Among the visitors to Auckland at the present! time is Captain Enrico Alberto D'Albertis, of Genoa, formerly a commander in the Italian Navy, bub now of the Italian Royal Navy Reserve. He arrived here from a tour of the South Sea Islands by the B.s. Corinna.

A 1 Herald representative interviewed Captain D'Albertis yesterday, and he courteously gave him all the information in bis power. ' This is not your first visit to New Zealand, I believe ?' said our representative. ' No, 1 replied Captain D'Albertis, 'My first visit was in 1879, when I was accompanied by Dr. Bicchari, an Italian botanist. We arrived at the Bluff, and travelled from thence through both islands to Auckland. Our object was foreign travel, and also to make botanical and entomological collections. We then proceeded to Australia, and on to Torres Straits and Singapore on a similar mission. There we separated, Dr. Bicchari coing to Sumatra, while I went to China, visiting Pekin, and also the country adjoining the Great Wall of China. From China I went on to Japan, then beginning to j give promise of a brilliant Afteratrip to 'Frisco, and thence through the United States, I went to the Isthmus of Panama, to make some investigations. Thence went to Lima, in Peru, and then returned home to Italy. 'I understand thab you have been dovoted to yachting cruises, and have gone over the track of Columbus'* voyages.' For 13 years I have been cruising about in the Mediterranean and elsewhere in my 50-ton yacht, the Corsaro, and was presenb in her at the opening at Kiel of the Baltic Canal. Indeed, but for the misfortune ot her coming into collision with an English steamer, by which she was damaged, I would probably have come oub in her to the colonies. Among other matters which 1 have occupied my attention with is the missing island Atlantis, of classic story, and my views are published in one of the series of volumes I have printed ot my cruises, and which are illustrated. Tho Portuguese claim to have discovered the Azores in 1445. In one of my cruises I was led to look into the matter, and subsequently discovered in the archives in Italy four maps of the islands, with the localities marked in Italian, Genoese, and Venetian, dated 1375, 1420, anil 1435. When the Columbus celebrations took place a fe»v years ago in America, Spain, and Italy, I was commissioned by bbeltalian Governmenbtosbudy the voyages of Columbus, and in my yacht, tho Corsaro, I went over bis track. In addition to the ordinary instruments of modern navigation I had the instruments he used astrolabe and quadranta— purposes of comparison. Alio his records as to ocean currents, which on practical tests were found to hare sustained little or no variation. It was intended at tho American Columbus celebration by the Italian Government to have had fete similes of the three caravels— the Santa Maria, Pinta, and Nina ; bub ib being ascertained that these were being made in the Spanish dockyards, I communicated with tho Spanish Minister of Marine, giving him the information concerning my models of the caravels already executed, and on comparison, with the plans and information in the possession of the Spanish authorities they were wonderfully close—the rig being almost identical, and the difference of tonnage being only about a ton on the tonnage of each caravel. My models were exhibited at tho Chicago Exhibition, at which Exhibition I had the honour to represent Genoa. The account of my voyage over tho track of Columbus has boon printed in book form, with views, maps, and track oil charts. In returning to Europo in my yacht, after the Chicago Exhibition, I had a narrow escape, encountering a cyclone. All hands were lashed to the rigging, and the hatches battened down. One of the vessels of the Italian squadron lost most of her sails and two lifeboats. On arrival home the Italian Minister of Marine tolegraphed his congratulations and thanks to me for the services rendered. 1

' You have recently visited South Africa and the Transvaal, 1 believe?'

' Yes, I left Genoa in December last, and London early in January for the Cape, and arrived after Jameson's famous raid. After visiting East London, Port Elizabeth, and Durban I went to the Orange Fr«o State to examine some ancient paintings on the rocks in the Drakenberg mountain*, said to be executed by Bushmen, and of which I made fac similes. I then visited Johannesburg. As soDn as the Boei-3 know I had no political object in view, bub was simply a foreigner engaged in travel and scientific pursuits, they received me most kindly and heartily. I visited tho battlefield of lvrugersdorp, where the traces of the fighb with Jameson's men still remained, and was engaged in sketching there whon bho great dynamite explosion took place, with such dreadful loss of life, and got some 'snap shots' of the explosion. Alter inspecting the mines of tho Rand, and the diamond mines at Kimberley, returned to Capetown and came on to Now Zealand, visiting the Wanganui River scenery, Parihaka, and bad an interview with To Wbiti, and made a trip to the Lake Country.' ' Whab are your impressions of your recenb trip to the South Sou Islands?' ' They are very pleasant. I have increased my collection, and also obtained a large quantity of curios, which are now being shipped, to my home, Castello di Montegalletto, at Genoa. Tho customs, history, and migrations of these island races interest mo, also the atoll formations. The Marquesas t;roup, especially, afford an inviting field for the geologist. As to the tatooing of the natives, it appears to be much more elaborate than tbut of the Maoris. I have a large number of photographs and sketches executed during my visit to the islands, and also in my travels over the world. 'With regard to Eastor Island, and its mysterious stone monu-. ments and inscriptions of a bygone ago by a bygone race, I have got pretty nearly all the literature published, with a view to elucidate the historical problem, also fac similes of the inscriptions. It is possible I may go to Mexico and Central America, in order to test some of tho theories which been propounded as to the race that rai«ed those sihgular formations, and made those inscriptions.' 1 What are your future movements 'I loave by the outgoing 'Frisco mail steamer for Honolulu, with a view of visiting the famous volcanos there. While here I have visited the Auckland Museum and Free Public Library, and found much to interest me in these institutions.' Captain D'Albertis is devoting his life to travol and scientific pursuits, and is giving to tho world at large the benefit! of his labours. It may be incidentally mentioned that Signor D'Albertis, one of the oxplorers of Now Guinea, is a cousin of this gallant officer,

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